The Strategic Power of the Higher Ed CFO

Higher education is under financial pressure like never before. Rising costs, shrinking enrollments, and tuition-dependent models are forcing leaders to make hard choices about what to cut and what to protect.

In this episode of Radical Cooperation, Dr. Michael Horowitz speaks with Jennifer Gantz, Chief Financial Officer of the Community Solution Education System, about how strategic investment, not austerity, is the key to institutional resilience. Together, they unpack why you can’t cut your way to greatness, how shared governance complicates financial decisions, and what it really takes to align money with mission in today’s higher ed landscape.

In this episode:
• Why cutting costs alone undermines quality and long-term growth.
• How program prioritization, shared governance, and transparency create smarter decisions.
• The leadership mindset CFOs need to stay innovative and adaptive under pressure

Timestamps
00:15 – Welcome to Radical Cooperation with Dr. Michael Horowitz
02:10 – Jennifer’s take on aligning budgets with strategy
03:20 – Cost-cutting vs. strategic investment in higher ed
06:50 – Protecting quality and student outcomes while budgeting
08:05 – When to cut low-performing programs
08:55 – Why program prioritization is hard but essential
13:00 – Why tuition isn’t enough
14:35 – Why higher ed resists change: shared governance issues
15:30 – Building trust through transparency in program review
16:20 – Clarifying the roles of boards, presidents, and faculty
18:05 – Strategic finance requires both numbers and relationships
19:15 – Moving from single institutions to a system-wide view
20:15 – Deferred maintenance and tech infrastructure challenges
25:55 – Local economic and social benefits of new colleges
28:05 – What’s lost when a college closes
29:15 – Chicago’s West Loop as a new campus opportunity
30:10 – Leadership traits for navigating financial pressures
30:50 – Rethinking old models: innovation and adaptability
31:30 – Advice for CFOs: Invest in the mission, not just savings
32:05 – Final words and invitation to connect